In my ignorance I had thought that holidays to Peru were all about gasping for oxygen as you marched along the Inca trail before reaching the wonders of Machu Piccu or marvelling at the brightly coloured clothes of the local people. Well, all that certainly featured on my holiday but what really stands out is spending New Year’s Eve here and witnessing how they set about predicting and bringing luck for the coming year. I witnessed so many of their traditions and superstitions that it is hard to know where to start but here are ones that I think might just catch on at home or which really caught my fancy.
Whoever would have thought that a bunch of grapes could affect your luck for the forthcoming year? Well, in Peru they can. In order to make sure you have twelve happy and lucky months all you have to do is select thirteen of the grapes, slip under the table, then eat twelve of them as fast as you can saying the name of the relevant month as you pop it into your mouth. However, if you make a mistake or drop one, you are doomed to spend an unlucky month. Once you have finished you eat a thirteenth grape just to seal the luck. I reckon this one could certainly catch on, especially if undertaken after a few drinks!
Alternatively, how about predicting the state of your finances for the year to come with a potato? All you have to do is put three potatoes under your chair and then without looking pull one out at midnight to see what sort of year you are going to have. The first potato should be peeled and if you pick this one it means a tough year with no money, the second should be partly peeled and this equates to a normal year and the third should be unpeeled. Should you be lucky enough to pull this one out you will have a year rich in financial rewards. Who would have thought the humble potato had such powers?
Instead of using it as an accompaniment to your curry why not spread a little rice around your house as the Peruvians do on New Year’s Eve. According to them, it is supposed to bring luck and money for the next year and is also said to help fertility. If you want to carry on the theme of throwing food around and annoy your neighbours at the same time, you can throw lentils onto the pavement; this is also supposed to bring luck.
If you leave your house on New Year’s Eve, local superstition states that any men in the party must be the first to go into the house. If women go across the threshold first, this is said to bring bad luck for the forthcoming year. Personally, I think that one just gives the men an excuse to forget chivalry for the night.
In the current economic climate it is worth doing almost anything to try to get a pay rise. So, how about trying another Peruvian tradition if you are hoping for a pay rise come the New Year? All you have to do is put some coins in your shoes and wear them. That one at least is worth a go isn’t it?
[box]This guest post is written by Saul Malpass an enthusiastic travel blogger who is writing on behalf of www.tribes.co.uk who specialise in Peru holidays[/box]
